Of intensifying



July 23, 1935. s. SMITHsoN 2,009,125

MEANS 01"I INTENSIFYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY Filed Jan. y19, 1932 atenied july 23, @B

.usarse stares www @ATENE @ENCE S @iF HNTENSEEYENG ELECTREUAL ENERGY i Samuel meithson, Rutherford, hi. 3. duplication January i9, i932, Serial No. 5%?,5'93

counts. (ci. iss-iis) Y This invention relates generally to electrical apparatus and is more particularly directed to a' method and means oi increasing the eiciency of high tension. electrical systems for the per 5 romance of certain Worlr, as in motor-vehicle ignition systems, wherein a spari; spanning a gap between two electrodes is utilized to ignite a highly compressed gaseous mixture Within the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder.

While, as will be manifest from this disclosure, my invention may he readily applied to secondary or high tension systems designed for other uses, i have elected to corinne my description. more or less, to its application to the ignition' 35 system of an internal combustion engine, or the type commonly employed in motor-vehicle construction However, this is done merely for illustrative purposes, and is not to bednterpreted in any way, whatsoever, as limiting my invention to this specic use.

The propagation or the charge-igniting spark under the high resistance within the combustion chamber or the inter-nel combustion engine has long been recognized as an importent factor in with the recent trend to higher compression ratios, it has been found that, in many instances,

the high tension ignition systems of existing def.

signs are unableA to satisfactorily meet theconditions that are imposed upon them. This re,- sults in a slow burning mixture, or other poor coinbustiori characteristicsand a concomitant rapid lossinengine power, due to carbonlzation, spari; plug deterioration and other causes which :Elow therefrom. Attempts have `eeen made to compensate for, or offset, the recognized' shortcomings of the i, present types of ignition systems, particularly 1in automotive vehicles, by various means, such as air gap devices attachabloto the spari: plug teriniziai, or sev-called intensiers or condensers, and dierent types oi coils, designed to be connected in the secondary circuit oi the system. However, for one reason or another, usually due to poor electrical characteristics, or because of their obvious impracticability from production and other standpolnts, these various proposed expedients have failed of adoption. Thus, at the present time, there is no device available: that will satisfactorily respond to the conditions that must be met to increase theeciency of the high tension or secondary circuit, so that the spark those characteristics that are re-' will possess 55 `Vquisite to the adequate perfomance oi its m- 'tended function.

determining emcient engine performance, and,v

' Therefore, it is the primary object of this in vention to produce a simple and eiicient method of improving or increasing the efdciency or high tension electrical systems generally, Where the ultimate work ci the energy must be performed' under adverse conditions, such as may obtain where a spark or arc must be produced under high atmospheric or other pressures.

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide a method and means of increasu ing the emciency of the secondary or high tension circuit of an internal combustion engine ignition system and 'to' provide for the propagan tion oi a spark that will possess certain chan acteristics winch will insure substantially instantaneous and complete combustion or vthe highly compressed mixture. `vJitl'iin the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder, in order that the maximum Working eiiort may be obtained therefrom.

Further, another important oloJect of this invention is to provide a method of eecting a reorganization of an electric current of predeter= mined amperage and voltage, loy reducing the emperage and proportionately increasing the voltage, thereby bringing about a change in the chemical action of the current with a reduction in the thermal units and a multiplication oi ions, this reorganized current, when passed between the electrodes of a spark plug, for es ample, providing for a distinct advance in sys--x tems or ignition, as in a motor-vehicle power plant` Another object of the invention is to provide e. simple, compact and practical device for carrying nu; :method into practice, that may be eco-s nomically produced and readily incorporated in the secondary circuit ofv an electrical ignition system by those unskilled in the art.

My invention also comprehends specific steps 5 in the construction of a device,v as aforesaid, whereby assembly of certain oi the cooperating components maybe greatly facilitated, 'the complete structure being vhighly resistant to those Adetrizuierital strains and stresses to which it may be subjected in use, so that eective service over a long period ci time, without replacements and repairs, may be insured.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my iuyention, Willldoubtless become ,evident as the description proceeds, and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents of the steps ci my method andof the elements of the structure whereby my methodmay be carried into effect, as well as in its use, to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect. Y

l I will now describe my invention in conjunction with a preferred form of apparatus'. or structure which may be utilized in the practicing thereof,l as shownl in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of'the line 2-2 oi Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section 3 3 of Figure l.

` Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing elements of an ignition system, as in a motor-vehi on the line 4cle, in which my. intensiner is incorporated.

Figure 5' is a plan view of the supporting base, which serves as a means of attachment, and

Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-8 of Figure 5;

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views, my device embodies a series of primary and secondary plates of bras`s or other suitable materia1,.as indicated at 8 and 8a, respectively,` these plates.`

` -being separated one from the other, by dielectrics,

such as the plates l of glass or other non-conductive material, that may be adaptable to the purpose. In the assembly of these components, any suitable method may be followed for binding or securing them in their necessary relationship. However, in practice, I have found that the work may be expedited and permanency of the assembly insured, by employing tape of brous material, as paper, coated with a suitable adhesive, as the tying element. 'I'he metal and non-metallic plates are arranged in properly superposed relation and the tape is then wrapped about them. after being moistened suiilciently to cause it to adhere tothe surfaces with which it contacts. Any number of windings may be employed and they may be located in zones adjacent the ends of the plates, or'elsewhere,`the freeend of the tape being sealed to the Winding which it overlies.

/Th'primary plates 8 are electrically connected,

as by a wire II, to the preferably brass member 4, the latter being centrally bored, as at 4a, to

. facilitate the location of said wire in the assembly operatiom' This member lis provided with an enlarged head portion 4b and an externally threaded shank, 'as at 4c.' the head portion being embedded or anchored in the top wall of the conany suitable high.

Y material, asume, bakelite or other composition that will respond to the essential requirements.

`As will be observed, the threaded shank of the lmember 4 projects above the top surface of vthe container in which said member is mounted, to

engage the internally threaded terminal cap I of insulated material, whereby the latter may be firmly heldin engagement with lthe surface oi' the container upon .which it abuts, as will be seen fromFigure1ofthedrawing. f

Within the aforesaid cap- I, I insert a brass socket or other suitable fitting 2, in threaded engagement therewith, by means of which a suitable electrical connection may be vmade in the ignition system in which4 my invention is to function. This socket or ntting 2, as will be noted from the drawing, is spaced upwardly from the adjacent end of the member to providefor the interposition therebetween oi' an annulardiac 3 of highly insulated material, as bakeiite or nbre, having a central aperture 3a therein, this apertured disc forming a'resistance means and air gap between said member 4 and the socket 2.

The secondary plates 8a, are electrically conand is also connected `to the secondary plates 8a,

by any suitable conductor, as the wire 9a. This ground tap may be of the screw and nut type .illustrated or of any other appropriate form.

Y With the assembly of the internal elements complete, as described, they are embeddedy in a compound or composition of high electrical and heat resisting characteristics, such as halo wax, sulphur, pitch or other material, with whichthe interior of the containeris filled, and the base member is then applied thereto in the manner heretofore explained.

The instrument is now ready for service, and, through the medium of itsfbase I2 and the cooperating metallic bracket member I 2, may be securely mounted, as by bolting, upon any suitable metal part of the engine with which the ignition system in which it is to function is employed. To facilitate such mounting, the bracket I2.' is attachable to the base I2 in different relative positions, two sets of openings Ita. and I3b being provided therein for the purpose, these openings being adapted to register with the holes in the ilange I2a of the base I2, for .the reception of if it is found necsary or desirable to mountit upon a non-conductive surface or support, an electrical ground may be made by means of a wire connected to the aforesaid tap or terminal 9, leading to a suitable metallic ground, as, for example, a part of the engine. With `the appropriate ground. established, on'e en d of a wire is then connected to the socket or fitting I, in any sultabie manner, as by a lug, to insure the maintenanceof the connection in use, the installation being completed by connecting the other endo! this wire into the high tension lead wire that extends from the coil to thedistributor of the i8- nition system, as by' splicing, or in any other manner that will serve theI purpose, the instrument, as will be evident, shun the coil.

The manner in which my de may be employed in a motor-vehicle ignition system, as here# in described, n illustrated in the diagrammatic showing of Figure 4, whereinthe battery b, grounded at a, isconnected by the wire to to the coil c.'thelatter beingwired, as at v, tothe distributor d in the primary circuit. The intensiner, generally indicated byl the reference elmf -acter I is grounded, as at a' or o", and connected inthe secondaryorhightension circuitbyaleadz from its terminal I to the cable :n--y between the coil and the distributor, the latterA cf Y the usual 'leads .s' to the spark-plugs s.

From the foregoing, it be clearly apparent that I have provided'a socalled intensifier. ern-l aooaias bodying a condenser and anair gap, that is compact, of la substantial and rugged construction and easily attachable for operation to any standard ignition or other high tension system where the nature of the work to be performed by the energy developed, renders its use desirable or essential. Due to the electrical characteristics of the condenser, as associated with the air gap, and

the means utilized in establishing the necessary connections, I have found that my device, in actual use, materially increases the efiiciency of the engine performance. Forl example, starting of an engine is more easily accomplished, while the instantaneous combustion of the complete charge-of the mixture, which results in the use of my invention, movement of the engine pistons, thereby eliminating the objectionable vibration that develops from a comparatively slow burning mixture, or incomplete combustion, as a result of poor ignition characteristics ofthe spark produced by the present types of high tension ignition systems.

` Again, greater power is obtained, with a saving in fuel consumption for a given amount of work, the carbonization of the cylinder walls and burning of the spark plug electrodes being substantially eliminated, all of these desirable results iiowing from the changes in the chemical action of the spark which are eiected through the medium of my apparatus.

While I have described my invention, more or less specifically, withreference to the embodiments shown, my method may be practiced by other means and the details of the components of the structure'and their arrangement may be changed and equivalents substituted therefor, without departing from th'e spirit and scope of my invention, asv defined by the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. An instrument for intensifying the electrical energy delivered by a high tension circuit designed for the performance of certain work, embodying a housing of insulating material, a condenser, including, primary and secondary plates and dielectric material therebetween, enclosed within said housing, a terminal on said housing adapted for connection vto anl electrical device in said circuit, conductor means between the primary plates and said terminal, including an air gap, a metallic base for said housing, a tap projecting from said housing, adjacent said base, and means electrically connecting said secondary plates to said base and an electrical connection between said latter means and said tap, said base and said tap .respectively providing alternative means for electrically grounding said instrument.

insures a steady and smoothv 2. An electrical instrument adapted to function as a spark intensifier in an internal combustion engine ignition system, embodying a container of insulated material, a condenser embedded within a mass of, material of high electrical and heat resisting characteristics, a terminal on said container, means forming an electrical path between said condenser and said terminal, said means including an air gap, said terminal being connectable to an electrical unit of the ignition system, a metal base for said container, means electrically connecting said base to said condenser and a bracket member forming a universal mounting for said base and cooperating therewith and with a metallic supporting surface to provide an electrical ground for said condenser.

3. An instrument for intensifying the electrical energy in the high tension circuit of an ignition system for ing a coil and a distributor, comprising a condenser, a housing of insulating material enclosing said condenser, said housing embodying a surface of conductive material adapted to function as a supporting base therefor, a conductor embedded in a part of said housing, said conductor being internal combustion engines, includcentrally bored, an' insulated sleeve external of said housing associated With said conductor, a socket fitted within said sleeve, said socket being in spaced relation to said conductor, means extending through the bore thereof electrically connecting 'said conductor to said condenser, an element of insulated material, centrally apertured, interposed between the`spaced surfaces of said conductor and said socket and means electrically connecting said condenserv to said housing surface of conductive material, whereby said surface may function to ground the condenser in said circuit, said socket being electrically connectable in said circuit between said coil and said distributor.

4. The combination with the high tension circuit of an ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a coil and a distributor, of a device for changing the characteristics of the energy delivered for the performance of the work, said device including a condenser, insulating material enclosing said condenser, a terminal external of said condenser-enclosing material, a path for electrical energy between'said condenser and saidterminal embodying an air gap and means for grounding said condenser in said circuit through its enclosing insulation, said terminal being connectable in said circuit between said coil and said distributor, whereby said device may function in said circuit. y

' SAMU@ Sli'lli-ISONr 

